I think the ratings are misleading since there are windows with same or better ratings than the Classic a which are not even close in quality.

I can agree with that to some extent. To me, the ratings do get a bit more muddled when you get into the low and mid-range product offerings. For instance, you will find wildly varying degrees of quality ranging from poor to good on a window that has a .30 u value and a .1X AI. The one thing I will say, is that when you get into the products that offer ratings in the upper echelon, you can't go wrong. Makes the process dummy-proof IMO.

Post subject: Re: Why against Thermal Industries. Need to make a decision

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:42 pm

Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:25 pmPosts: 8

Genius, madman- TomAto,, tomato, let's call the whole thing off. Even funnier is the charaterization of the Softlite Classic as a decent window. It is lipstick on a pig. If what you mean by "better at what it does" is taking a good name and applying it to a turd product, then yes, it certainly is better. The Elements and Imperial LS are great products and I'd accept no less from that line. Classic is to Softlite as Thermostar is to Pella.

Uncle eddie, please share with us what it is about the Classic that you find unacceptable for a drop window. I've been doing the Soft-Lite lines since 2005 and can count on two hands how many times I've done a project with either a Classic, Bainbridge, or Barrington compared to the Imperial LS. The LS comprises 95% of my business with Soft-Lite and I only utilize the other lines for folks that are looking for sub $400 install. As a matter of fact it's been a few years since I've installed any of them other than the LS. I was never crazy about those series, but other than an isolated issue when Soft-Lite switched extrusion manufacturers, I've not had a problems with them

The Classic is basically a stripped down Pro which is above both the Barrington and Bainbridge in Soft-Lite's pecking order.

I'd have to agree with Mike, it a stripped down version of the same exact window. When I have used that line in the past, the price of the Pro was a minimal upcharge over the Classic so it was a "no-brainer" for me, but the Classic is not bad by any stretch. The comparison to Thermostar is highly inaccurate and laughable.

Post subject: Re: Why against Thermal Industries. Need to make a decision

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 10:07 am

Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:25 pmPosts: 8

Drop window=fine. I don't like the drip cap head jamb (I've seen it separate), single strength glass, Intercept, and a barely passable u-value at .30. Fine as a drop window I guess, I just think that it is a product that doesn't belong with the rest of that lineup.

Post subject: Re: Why against Thermal Industries. Need to make a decision

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 5:36 pm

Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:13 pmPosts: 7

Thanks, guys. We have decided to go with an option I did not list on my first comment, based on your input.

We are bypassing the pro (20 windows with six oversized @ $7983)by soft-light and going with the Imperial LS. We are going to do the super-spacer instead of the intercept??? spacer for a total of $8263. That's about $14 per window higher.

Most of you said you prefered it over the pro and my wife liked the way it looked abit better anyway.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], Yahoo [Bot] and 6 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum